LKCTURE 


ON  THE 

CONDITION  OF  WOMEN 


IN 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES, 

BY 


CALEB  WRIGHT, 


"lecturer  on  tee  manners,  habits,  and  superstitions  of  the  HINDOOS." 


BT£RBOTYPB  EDITION. 


TROY,  NEW  YORK. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845, 
By  CALEB  WRIGHT, 

In  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Oourt  of  Massachusetts. 


Women  of  Hindoostan. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/lectureonconditiOOwrig 


LECTURE. 


Woman,  by  Heaven’s  appointment,  is  man’s  help-meet.  For 
this  was  she  created,  and  for  this  furnished  with  her  peculiar 
endowments.  “ It  is  not  good  that  man  should  be  alone.”  Soli- 
tude is  ill  adapted  to  the  development  either  of  his  physical 
energies,  or  of  his  intellectual  and  moral  powers.  His  nature 
demands  companionship ; without  it,,  the  world  is  a blank,  and 
human  existence  a cheerless  night. 

W Oman,  in  her  original  state,  (to  use  the  language  of  another,) 
“ was  all  that  is  lovely  in  form,  all  that  is  graceful  in  manner,  all 
that  is  exalted  in  mind,  all  that  is  pure  in  thought,  all  that  is 
delicate  in  sentiment,  all  that  is  enchanting  in  conversation.”  She 
was  God’s  most  finished  workmanship.  Has  she  lost  her  original 
purity  and  loveliness?  Butman  has  fallen  too;  and  relatively 
they  are  to  each  other  still  what  they  were  before  they  took  and 
ate  of  the  forbidden  fruit.  It  is  now,  as  ever.  Heaven’s  will  that 
woman  receive  all  “duo  benevolence”  from  man, — that  he 
regard  her  as  his  equal,  and  entitled  to  his  warmest  love : that 
he  throw  his  arm  around  her  for  protection,  and  combine 
with  the  gentlest  care  the  most  respectful  deference  to  her  honor 
and  her  happiness.  “A  man  shall  leave  his  father  and  his  mother 
and  cleave  unto  his  wife,  and  they  shall  be  one  flesh.”  “Hus- 
bands, love  your  wives,”  is  God’s  command  and  nature’s  law, 
for  they  are  bone  of  each  other’s  bone  and  flesh  of  each  other’s 
flesh.  Such  is  the  genius  of  Christianity.  And  the  result  of 
obedience  to  this  eternal  law  of  God  and  nature,  is  the  lofty  ele- 
vation of  the  female  character,  the  thorough  cultivation  of  her 
mind,  the  rich  endowment  of  her  heart,  and  the  augmented 
strength  of  all  her  capabilities  of  usefulness  and  enjoyment ; 
while  the  result  of  disobedience  is  fraught  with  all  that  is 
degrading  to  intellect,  vitiating  to  social  principle,  corrupting  to 
moral  habits,  and  hostile  to  every  upward  movement  of  the 
immortal  powers. 

And  what  is  the  spirit  of  heathenism,  and  of  false  religion  in 
its  varied  forms,  let  the  impartial  pen  of  history  tell.  Times, 


6 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


ancient  and  modern, — witnesses,  Pagan,  Mahometan,  and  Chris- 
tian, may  be  mdiscrinynately  cited  on  this  point.  Their  testi- 
mony is  one, — trutliful,  melancholy,  and  decisive. 

A daughter  is  born.  ’T  is  a grievous  calamity.  The  Hindoo 
father  becomes  dejected,  and  his  neighbors  gather  around  him  to 
mingle  their  grief  with  his.  The  Chinese  parent  thus  afflicted 
denominates  the  little  innocent  a woe,  a hated  thing.  Even 
the  Moorish  mother  repines,  and  though  she  had  rejoiced  greatly 
at  the  birth  of  her  son,  and  blackened  her  face  forty  days  in 
token  of  her  joy,  yet  when  a daughter  comes  into  the  world,  she 
ill  conceals  her  mortification,  by  blackening  half  her  face,  for 
half  the  period  only. 

It  was  not  long  since,  that  the  lady  of  a missionary  in  the  East, 
having  become  the  mother  of  a lovely  daughter,  a native  friend 
of  the  husband  called  on  him  the  following  day  with  a counte- 
nance unusually  sad.  The  missionary  kindly  inquired  the  cause 
of  his  sadness.  His  friend,  with  most  lugubrious  face,  replied,  “I 
have  heard  that  your  new-born  infant  is  a daughter,  and  I have 
come  to  condole  with  you,  on  your  hard  fate.”  So  little  valued 
is  the  life  of  female  infants,  within  the  domains  of  Paganism,  that 
great  numbers  are  put  to  death,  solely  to  avoid  the  trouble  and 
expense  of  feeding  and  clothing  them. 

The  singular  custom  formerly  prevailed  in  the  northern  part 
of  Hindoostan,  whenever  a female  child  was  born,  of  carrying 
her  to  the  market-place,  and  there,  holding  up  the  child  in  one 
hand,  and  a knife  in  the  other,  proclaiming,  that  if  any  person 
wanted  to  rear  her  for  a wife,  they  might  then  take  her ; if  none 
appeared  to  accept  of  her,  she  was  immediately  destroyed.  The 
consequence  of  this  course,  was,  that  the  men  of  the  tribe  became 
much  more  numerous  than  the  women;  and  hence  arose  the 
custom  of  appropriating  several  husbands  to  one  wife, — a custom 
that  still  prevails  in  some  of  the  southern  as  well  as  the  northern 
tribes  of  Hindoostan.  Among  the  Rajpoot  tribes  in  the  north-west 
part  of  that  country  nearly  all  the  female  children  are  put  to  death 
immediately  after  birth ; consequently  the  men  are  obliged  to  pro- 
cure their  wives  from  other  tribes.  And  among  some,  at  least, 
of  the  Indian  tribes  of  our  own  land,  the  case  is  no  better.  Said 
a Chippewa  Indian,  (in  a recent  address  before  a missionary 
society  in  London,) — “ When  a boy  is  born  in  the  tribe  it  is  a 
day  of  rejoicing,  because  it  is  considered  that  he  will  make  a 
fine  warrior  ; but  when  a female  is  born,  it  is  a time  of  sorrow, 
and  it  is  said,  ‘ a good-for-nothing  girl  is  born.’  The  poor  mother, 
knowing  that  the  news  is  not  good,  kisses  the  poor  child,  and 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


7 


says,  ‘ Father  does  not  love  you,  but  I do and  then,  taking  the 
infant  by  the  legs,  dashes  out  its  brains,  exclaiming,  ‘Would  to 
God,  my  mother  had  done  so  with  me  when  I was  born, — I should 
not  then  have  been  such  a slave.’  On  one  occasion  the  helpless 
babe  was  rescued  from  its  mother,  by  her  sisters,  who  said,  ‘ It  is 
better  that  your  child  should  be  a slave  than  to  kill  it  in  this 
way.’  That  babe  is  now  grown  up ; when  fourteen  years  of  age, 
she  was  converted,  and  has  now  become  a Sabbath  school  teacher, 
and  a useful  member  of  society.” 

The  education  of  heathen  females  is  entirely  neglected. 
While,  throughout  the  Eastern  world,  schools  are  maintained  for 
the  instruction  of  boys,  and  they  are  sufficiently  taught  to  qualify 
them  for  the  common  business  of  life,  girls  are  left  to  utter  igno- 
rance of  letters,  and  systematically  refused  all  intellectual  culture, 
as  useless  to  themselves  and  injurious  to  society.  To  a European 
gentleman,  (who  endeavored  to  persuade  the  natives  of  a Hin- 
doo village  that  the  education  of  their  females  in  reading,  writing, 
and  arithmetic,  would  be  of  advantage  to  their  husbands,  and 
would  render  them  their  equals  and  companions,  as  well  as 
helpers,)  it  was  replied, — “ All  this.  Sahib,  may  be  very  true  with 
your  people,  but  it  will  never  do  for  us.  It  would  be  impossible 
lor  Hindoos  to  keep  their  wives  in  subjection,  if  they  were 
educated.”  Shrewd  reasoning  this  ! — based  on  the  preposterous 
assumption,  that  man  is  created  to  be  a master,  and  woman  a 
slave.  In  vain  were  these  villagers  assured  that  women  of  the 
most  refined  education  and  extensive  knowledge  are  the  most 
affectionate  and  faithful  Avives  in  the  world,  because  governed  by 
reason,  judgment,  and  common  sense,  they  regard  the  interest 
of  their  husbands  as  their  own,  and  yield  a systematic  and  cheer- 
ful obedience  in  those  things  in  which  the  husband’s  will  ought  to 
have  the  preference,  Avhile,  at  the  same  time,'  he  might  enjoy  the 
advantages  of  her  better  judgment  in  matters  which  pertain  to 
her  own  sphere.  Their  only  reply  to  such  arguments  is,  “ Our 
women  are  not  like  yours, — if  educated  they  Avoiild  be  refractory, 
and  would  no  longer  carry  burdens,  and  collect  cow’s  ordure  for 
fuel.”  On  grounds  like  these,  is  the  whole  mass  of  female  mind 
throughout  Hindoostan,  China,  Burmah,  Persia,  Turkey,  &c., 
doomed  to  perpetual  darkness  and  gloom,  instead  of  sharing  the 
light  of  science,  and  rejoicing  in  the  radiance  of  the  sun  of 
righteousness. 

They  are  not  at  their  own  disposal  in  marriage.  Of  all  the 
relationships  of  life,  this  is  the  basis.  Of  all  affinities,  it  is  the 
closest  and  most  tender.  Of  earthly  bliss,  it  is  the  purest  foim- 


8 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


tain, — the  brightest  crown,— the  loveliest  image  of  heaven’s  blest 
communion. 

“ True  bliss  (if  man  may  reach  it)  is  composed 

Of  hearts  in  union  mutually  disclosed; 

And  farewell  else,  all  hope  of  pure  delight.” 

“In  marriage,”  (says  Jeremy  Taylor,)  “kindness  is  spread 
abroad,  and  love  is  united,  and  made  firm  as  a centre ; it  is  the 
nursery  of  heaven, — it  fills  up  the  number  of  the  elect.  It  is  the 
mother  of  the  world,  and  preserves  the  kingdoms,  and  fill^  the 
cities,  and  the  churches,  and  heaven  itself.  Like  the  useful  bee, 
it  builds  a house,  and  gathers  sweetness  from  every  flower,  and 
labors,  and  unites  into  societies  and  republics,  and  sends  out 
colonies,  and  feeds  the  world  with  delicacies,  and  keeps  order, 
and  promotes  the  interest  of  mankind,  and  is  that  state  of  good 
things,  to  which  God  has  designed  the  present  constitution  of 
the  world.” 

But  all  this  supposes  confidence  and  esteem,  growing  out  of 
acquaintance  between  the  parties,- — affection,  inspiring  a mutual 
desire  to  please,  and  the  immerging  of  individual  interests  in  the 
common  stock  of  domestic  enjoyments.  And  of  this,  Paganism 
knows  nothing.  It  holds  females  as  articles  of  merchandise, 
to  be  disposed  of  to  those  who  will  pay  for  them  the  highest 
price.  Girls  of  six  or  eight  years  are  bought  and  sold  by  their 
fathers  as  calves  of  the  stall,  to  be  taken,  at  twelve  or  fourteen, 
(whether  willing  or  unwilling,)  from  the  home  of  their  childhood, 
and  put  into  the  hands  of  the  man  for  whom  they  were  pur- 
chased. 

In  Hindoostan,  females,  who  remain  unmarried  till  they  are 
fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  age,  (however  correct  in  ^heir  con- 
duct,) are  regarded  as  infamous,  and  (like  widows)  are  never 
sought  for  in  marriage ; and  widowers  (even  if  sixty  or  seventy 
years  old)  invariably  marry  girls  of  ten  or  twelve.  Among  the 
poorer  classes  in  China,  when  a man  dies,  his  relatives  (to  regain 
the  money  originally  paid  for  his  bride)  are  allowed  to  sell  his 
widow  to  become  the  wife  of  another  man.  The  arrangement  is 
made  without  her  knowledge,  and  (regardless  of  her  wishes)  she 
is  forced  into  a palenkeen,  and  carried  to  the  house  of  her  pur- 
chaser. The  price  of  a bride  varies  much  in  different  countries. 
In  some  parts  of  Africa  ten  or  fifteen  bullocks  are  paid  as  an 
equivalent,  while  a handsome  red-haired  Circassian  or  Georgian 
girl  cannot  be  bought  for  less  than  six  or  seven  thousand  piasters. 
In  the  kingdom  of  Dahomey,  all  unmarried  women  are  held  as 
the  property  of  the  king.  Once  a year  they  assemble  at  the 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


9 


palace,  when  he  selects  the  handsomest  for  himself,  and  sells  the 
remainder  to  his  subjects.  The  purchaser  is  allowed  no  choice, 
but  receives  the  wife  selected  for  him  by  the  king.  But  the  whole 
story  of  man’s  regard  for  woman  in  unevangelized  lands,  is  told 
in  the  simple  language  of  the  Modean  of  Siberia,  who,  at  the 
close  of  the  marriage  ceremony,  places  the  bride  on  a mat,  and 
conveys  her  to  the  bridegroom,  saying,  “ There,  wolf,  take  thy 
lamb.” 

It  is  not  in  all  heathen  countries,  however,  that  wives  are 
obtained  by  money  or  its  equivalent.  In  some  tribes  more  roman- 
tic customs  prevail.  The  New  Hollander  fixes  his  eye  upon 
some  female  of  a tribe  at  enmity  with  his  own.  He  steals  upon 
her  at  some  moment  when  no  protector  is  near,  and  deals  out 
blows  with  his  club,  upon  her  head,  neck,  back,  indeed  every 
part  of  her  body,  till  she  becomes  insensible  ; and  then  drags  her 
by  one  of  her  arms,  (the  blood  streaming  from  her  wounds,)  over 
rocks,  hills,  stones  and  logs,  with  all  the  violence  and  ferocity 
of  a savage,  till  he  reaches  his  tribe.  The  scene  that  follows, 
admits  not  of  description.  Suffice  it  to  say,  the  poor  violated 
woman  becomes  the  wife  of  her  ravisher, — is  admitted  to  his 
tribe, — and  (notwithstanding  the  singularity  of  the  courtship)  is 
contented  with  her  lot,  and  rarely  leaves  her  husband  and  her 
home. 

I That  genuine  love  may  exist,  even  among  these  rude  barba- 
rians, and  sometimes  be  exhibited  in  the  purest  forms,  admits  not 
of  doubt.  Mr.  Barrington  (who  had  long  resided  in  Parametta) 
mentions  an  instance  that  fell  under  his  own  observation,  pleas- 
antly illustrating  this  fact.  “A  brother  of  twenty-three,  and  two 
sisters  of  twenty  and  fourteen  respectively,  dwelt  together  affec- 
tionately in  a cave  near  the  city.  On  returning  one  day  from 
hunting  the  kangaroo,  just  as  the  darkness  of  night  mantled  the 
heavens,  and  while  the  forked  lightning  played  vividly  around 
him,  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  his  eye  caught  the  form  of  his 
younger  sister,  bleeding  on  the  ground.  Troubled  before  at  the 
warring  of  the  elements,  his  soul  was  now  in  agony.  He 
endeavored  to  raise  her  up,  but  she  was  senseless.  At  length, 
however,  his  efforts  were  successful,  and,  with  returning  anima- 
tion, she  exclaimed,  ‘ Dear  brother ! our  sister  is  torn  from  us, — 
a wretch  came  to  the  cave,  beat  her  cruelly  with  his  club,  and 
caught  up  one  arm  to  drag  her  away, — I laid  hold  of  the  other 
to  prevent  him,  but  the  moment  he  saw  it,  with  a single  blow, 
he  knocked  me  to  the  ground,  where  you  have  now  found  me.’ 
The  night  was  passed  in  the  anguish  of  grief  and  amid  harrow- 


10 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


ing  purposes  of  revenge.  Morning  came,  'rogether  they  sought 
the  tribe  of  the  olTender.  A little  before  reaching  it,  they  met 
the  sister  of  the  very  man  who  had  committed  the  outrage,  gath- 
ering sticks  for  a fire.  A fine  opportunity  was  thus  presented 
for  revenge.  The  brother  (bidding  his  sister  to  hide  herself) 
flew  upon  the  young  woman,  wifii  club  in  hand,  and  with  all 
the  ferocity  of  a savage  in  his  heart.  The  victim  trembled ; but 
knowing  his  power,  she  stood  firmly,  and  looked  him  in  the  eye, 
when,  (like  the  lion  of  the  forest,  meeting  the  eye  of  intelligent 
man,)  he  paused, — he  gazed, — enchantment  was  on  him  : she  saw 
it, — dropped  on  her  knees  and  implored  his  compassion.  Re- 
venge softened  into  love ; throwing  down  his  club,  he  clasped 
her  in  his  arms,  and  vowed  eternal  constancy.  This  nobleness 
won  her  heart.  He  called  his  sister,  who  thirsted  still  for  the 
stranger’s  blood,  and  said  to  her,  ‘ She  is  now  my  wife.’  ” 

“ Nor  force  nor  interest  joined  unwilling  hands, 

But  love  consenting  tied  the  blissful  bands.” 

All  three  now  love  each  other  tenderly,  and  (under  the  instruc- 
tion of  a Christian  friend)  read  the  oracles  of  God,  and  cherish 
the  spirit  that  breathes  from  the  bosom  of  Jesus. 

Polygamy  prevents  the  enjoyment  of  the  husband’s  affection. 
Conjugal  love  may  be  disturbed, — or  it  may  be  diminished, — or  it 
may  be  maddened  into  phrensy, — or  it  may  be  annihilated, — but 
it  cannot  be  divided.  Abraham  may  become  the  husband  of 
Hagar,  but  his  heart  is  with  Sarah.  Jacob  may  be  the  protector 
of  Leah,  but  he  loves  Rachel.  Elkanah  may  deal  kindly  with 
Peninnah,  but  his  affections  are  with  Hannah.  Good  meu 
these,  and  faithful  to  their  marriage-vows,  though  borne  away 
into  the  transgression  of  the  original  law  of  Heaven,  by  the  strong 
current  of  the  popular  sentiment  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived. 
Then,  though  Heaven  interfered  not  to  prevent  the  practice,  it 
never  sanctioned  it  by  law ; and  if  it  were  not  condemned  by 
statutes  and  penalties,  it  was  powerfully  rebuked  by  its  effects 
and  consequences.  Never  did  it  fail,  in  the  most  auspicious  cir- 
cumstances for  its  indulgence,  to  produce  domestic  discord  and 
wretchedness.  Jealousy,  bitterness,  and  strife,  are  its  inva- 
riable attendants,  even  when  associated  with  faith  as  strong  as 
that  of  the  patriarchs,  and  piety  as  ardent  as  that  of  the  sweet 
singer  of  Israel.  Its  inconsistency  with  the  spirit  of  the  gospel 
has  expelled  the  practice  from  every  Christian  land ; and  its 
incongruity  with  reason  and  expediency,  has  stamped  it  with 
infamy.  But  it  still  prevails  among  the  higher  classes,  in  nearly 
every  part  of  tlie  unevangelized  world. 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


11 


Besides  four  queens,  the  king  of  Binnah  has  thirty  wives,  and 
five  hundred  other  women  at  his  disposal.  The  emperor  of  Tur- 
key swells  his  harem,  usually,  with  more  than  a thousand 
wives, — the  sultan  Achmet  I.  is  said  to  have  had  three  thousand. 
The  king  of  Ashantee  has  three  thousand  three  hundred  and 
thirty-three, — a mystical  number,  on  the  integrity  of  which  the 
prosperity  of  his  kingdom  is  supposed  to  depend.  And  the  king 
of  Yarriba  boasted  to  Capt.  Clapperton,  that  his  wives,  linked 
hand  in  hand,  would  reach  entirely  across  his  kingdom. 

Not  only  kings,  but  nobles,  and  men  of  wealth  and  station,  and 
indeed  men  of  all  classes,  who  have  the  ability  to  sustain  a 
plurality  of  wives,  are  eager  to  possess  them, — not  as  objects  of 
affection,  but  as  honorable  appendages  to  their  establishments,  or 
as  ministering  to  their  pride  and  sensuality.  Love  is  not  known 

“ where  pleasure  is  adored, 

That  ruling  goddess,  with  a zoneless  waist 
And  wandering  eyes,  still  leaning  on  the  arm 
Of  novelty.” 

but  its  place  is  supplied  by  envy,  and  raficor,  and  hate,  bursting 
forth,  often,  in  words  of  wrath  and  deeds  of  cruelty,  and  the 
wanton  murder  of  the  innocent.  Says  Lady  Montague,  during 
her  residence  in  Constantinople,  “ The  body  of  a young  woman 
of  surpassing  beauty  was  found  one  morning  near  my  house. 
She  had  received  two  wounds,  one  in  her  side,  and  the  other  in 
her  breast,  and  was  not  quite  cold.  Many  came  to  admire  her 
beauty ; but  no  one  could  tell  who  she  was, — no  woman’s  face 
being  known  out  of  her  family.  She  was  buried  privately,  and 
little  inquiry  made  for  the  wretch  who  had  imbrued  his  hands  in 
her  blood.”  The  Pacha  of  Acre,  in  Palestine,  a few  years  since, 
put  to  death  seven  of  his  wives,  at  one  time,  with  his  oAvn  hands. 
And  even  where  cruelties  like  these  are  not  perpetrated,  the  wife 
is  kept  a prisoner  m the  house  of  her  lord,  and  her  face  is  never 
seen  beyond  it.  She  is  thus  entirely  in  the  irresponsible  power 
of  her  husband,  nor  is  one  earthly  ear  but  his,  open  to  the  tale 
of  her  wrongs,  how  terrible  soever  they  may  be.  That  she 
endures  such  wrongs,  is  no  more  to  be  questioned  than  the  exist- 
ence of  caprice  in  man’s  proud  heart,  or  of  contempt  for  the 
whole  sex,  which  he  regards  as  infinitely  inferior  to  his  own. 

The  Pagan  or  Mahometan  wife  is  liable  to  divorce,  and  con- 
sequent poverty  and  shame,  at  any  moment  when  her  husband 
wills  it.  For  one  cause,  and  only  one,  Christianity  permits  the 
disruption  of  the  conjugal  tie.  And  it  is  this  inviolability  of  the 


12 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


relation  that  operates  so  kindly  in  the  restraint  of  unseemly  pas- 
sions, and  in  perpetuating 

“ Domestic  happiness,  the  only  bliss 
/ Of  Paradise  that  has  survived  the  fall.” 

But  false  religions  allow  to  man  unbounded  license.  Might  and 
right,  in  their  vocabulary,  are  but  synonymous  terms ; and  woman 
(dishonored  without  her  own  fault)  is,  at  her  husband’s  pleas- 
ure, turned  an  outcast  from  her  home.  Let  the  Arab’s  wife  be 
taken  sick,  and  forthwith  she  is  returned  to  her  parents  with  the 
message,  “ I paid  for  a healthy  woman,  and  cannot  afford  the 
support  of  a sickly  one.”  Let  the  Siberian  become  dissatisfied 
with  his  wife,  for  any  cause,  and  he  has  but  to  tear  her  cap 
from  her  head,  and  the  marriage  contract  is  dissolved.  Let  the 
husband  of  Sumatra  but  break  a bamboo,  in  the  presence  of  his 
wife  and  their  relatives,  and  tfie  divorce  is  effected.  Or,  let  the 
Greenlander  leave  his  home  in  apparent  anger,  and  not  return 
for  a few  days ; the  wife  understands  his  meaning,  picks  up  her 
clothes,  and  returns  to  her  friends.  Or  let  the  South  Sea  Islandei 
but  speak  the  word,  anif  the  relation  is  dissolved,  though  no  dis- 
like of  the  Avife  to  the  husband  can  produce  a separation  without 
his  consent.  But  a divorce  is  ruin  to  the  female, — it  dooms  her 
irrevocably  to  scorn  and  universal  contempt,  and  (Avith  scarcely 
less  certainty)  to  a life  of  vice  and  infamy. 

But  the  degradation  of  Avoman  under  the  fell  influence  of  false 
religions  is  not  yet  fully  seen.  She  is  her  husband’s  slave,  and 
with  unquestioning  servility,  must  yield  to  his  behest,  on  penalty 
of  torture,  separation,  or  death.  Nor  is  this  a mere  accident  of 
her  condition.  The  religion  of  her  country  decrees  it, — the 
sacred  books  demand  it.  The  Koran,  and  the  Hindoo  Shasters, 
AA’-hose  doctrines  SAvay  the  mind,  and  determine  the  practice,  of 
more  than  tAvo  hundred  millions  of  the  human  family,  make 
woman  infinitely  man’s  inferior, — the  mere  pander  to  his  passions, 
— the  abject  drudge,  OAving  him  unconditional  submission.  Says 
the  Shaster  of  the  Hindoo, — “ The  supreme  duty  of  a Avife,  is,  to 
obey  the  mandate  of  her  husband.  Let  the  Avife  Avho  Avishes  to 
perform  sacred  ablution,  Avash  the  feet  of  her  lord,  and  drink  the 
Avater,  for  the  .husband  is  to  the  Avife  greater  than  Vishnoo.  If 
a man  goes  on  a journey  his  Avife  shall  not  divert  herself  by  play, 
nor  shall  see  any  public  shoAv,  nor  shall  laugh,  nor  shall  dress 
herself  in  jewels  and  fine  clothes,  nor  shall  see  dancing,  nor  hear 
music,  nor  shall  sit  at  the  AvindoAv,  nor  shall  ride  out,  nor  shall 
behold  anything  choice  and  rare,  but  shall  fasten  Avell  the  house 
door,  and  remain  private,  and  shall  not  eat  any  dainty  food,  and 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


13 


shall  not  blacken  her  eyes  with  powder,  and  shall  not  view  her 
face  in  a mirror, — she  sliall  never  exercise  herself  in  any  snch 
agreeable  employment  during  the  absence  of  her  husband.” 
Again,  "A  woman  shall  never  go  out  of  the  hoirse  without  the 
consent  of  her  husband,  and  shall  act  according  to  the  orders  of 
her  husband,  and  shall  not  eat  until  she  has  served  him,” — 
though,  “ if  it  be  physic,  she  may  take  it  before  he  eat.” 

Not  only  in  Hindoostan,  but  in  almost  every  unevangelized 
country,  the  wife  is  obliged  to  stand  and  wait  upon  her  husband 
while  he  eats,  and  to  be  content  with  such  food  as  is  left  after 
bis  wants  are  satisfied.  In  the  Society  Islands,  while  Paganism 
reigned,  women  were  not  only  thus  compelled  to  wait  upon  their 
husband’s  table,  but  were  not  allowed,  on  pain  of  death,  to  eat 
at  all  of  those  kinds  of  food  -which  were  most  highly  esteemed. 
The  cocoa-nut,  the  plantain,  the  fowl,  the  turtle,  the  swine,  the 
shark,  and  various  kinds  of  fish,  were  tabued  to  them.  Nor 
were  they  allowed  to  eat  in  the  same  house  with  the  men,  nor  to 
cook  their  food  at  the  same  fire,  nor  to  put  it  into  the  same  ves- 
sels. The  transgression  of  these  rules  involved  immediate 
drowning  or  strangulation.  ••  The  females  of  Raratonga,”  (says 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams.)  Avere  denied  those  kinds  of  food 
reserved  for  the  men  and  the  gods, — compelled  to  eat  their  scanty 
meals  by  themselves,  and  forbidden  to  dwell  under  the  same  roof 
with  their  tyrannical  masters.”  » 

Till  Riho  Riho  became  ruler  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  similar 
customs  prevailed  there.  About  the  time  when  he  caused  the 
idols  to  be  destroyed,  a dinner  party  was  made,  to  Avhich  the  prin- 
cipal chiefs  and  other  persons  of  distinction  were  invited.  When 
the  company  were  seated  around  the  table  spread  in  an  open 
bower,  the  king  took  his  seat  between  two  of  his  queens, — pre- 
sented them  with  some  of  the  forbidden  food,  and  ate  from  the 
same  dish  with  them.  The  whole  company  were  astonished  at 
such  an  innovation  on  ancient  usages ; so  great,  indeed,  was  the 
excitement  produced,  that  it  threatened  a revolution  in  the  gov- 
ernment. The  authority  of  the  monarch,  howeA'er,  sustained  by 
the  incipient  influences  of  Christianity,  pre\'ailed. 

In  1787,  the  emperor  of  China  issued  the  following  decree; 
“All  persons  of  the  female  sex,  of  whatever  quality  or  condition, 
are  forbidden,  upon  any  pretext  whatever,  to  enter  a temple  or 
quit  their  houses,  except  in  cases  of  absolute  necessity.  Fathers, 
husbands,  brothers,  sons  or  relatives,  are  commanded  to  keep 
them  at  home,  upon  pain  of  bemg  themselves  severely  pun- 
ished. After  this,  any  rvoman  who  shall  enter  a temple  shall  be 


14 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


apprehended  and  imprisoned,  till  some  one  shall  appear  to  claim 
her,  and  to  undergo  the  punishment  due  to  his  negligence,” — 
thus  cutting  off  at  a stroke  the  whole  female  population  of  the 
empire  from  all  the  rites  of  religion,  and  all  the  pleasures  of  social 
intercourse. 

In  some  parts  of  Siberia  the  marriage  ceremony  is  no  sooner 
performed,  than  the  wife  pulls  off  her  husband’s  boots,  in  token  of 
submission,  lii  other  parts  of  the  same  country,  the  morning 
after  a wedding,  a man  representing  the  father  of  the  bride, 
delivers  to  the  husband  a whip,  which,  whenever  the  wife 
offends,  is  to  be  used  freely.  In  the  interior  of  Java  the  bride 
washes  the  bridegroom’s  feet  in  token  of  subjection.  In  Bambouk, 
Africa,  she  takes  off  her  sandals,  kneels  before  the  bridegroom, 
pours  water  upon  his  feet,  and  wipes  them  with  her  mantle.  In 
Madagascar,  Avhen  a husband  returns  from  war,  his  wife  gives 
him  the  customary  salutation  of  passing  her  tongue  over  his  feet 
most  respectfully.  In  New  Holland,  the  slightest  offence  given 
to  the  husband  brings  down  the  club  upon  the  wife,  which  never 
fails  to  draw  forth  a stream  of  blood  and  often  fractures  the 
skull.  Among  the  Mandingoes,  the  terrible  personage  called 
Mumbo  Jumbo,  is  called  forth  to  frighten  the  refractory  wife  into 
submission.  This  demon  form,  assumed  either  by  the  husband 
himself  or  some  one  instructed  by  him,  gives  notice  of  his 
approach  from  the  neighboring  woods,  near  sunset,  by  the  most 
frightful  yells.  At  dark  the  men  go  out  to  meet  him.  He  has  a 
rod  in  his  hand,  a hideous  mask  on  his  head,  and  is  fantastically 
decorated  with  the  bark  of  trees.  He  is  conducted  to  the  village, 
where  all  the  married  women  are  assembled.  The  ceremonies 
commence.  Songs  and  dances  continue  till  a late  hour.  Mumbo 
Jumbo  himself  sings  a song  peculiar  to  the  occasion.  Then  the 
Avomen  are  required  to  arrange  themseh'^es  in  a circle.  After  a 
long  pause  and  profound  silence,  Mumbo  points  but  those  that 
have  been  disobedient  to  their  husbands,  or  otherwise  have 
behaved  improperly,  and  they  are  immediately  seized,  stripped, 
tied  to  a post,  and  severely  beaten  Avith  Mumbo’s  rod,  amid  the 
shouts  and  deridings  of  the  Avhole  assembly. 

And  to  such  humiliation  of  Avoman,  are  boys,  in  some  instan- 
ces at  least,  systematically  trained.  The  Hottentot  mother, 
who  has  brought  up  her  boy  Avith  tenderness  till  he  has  reached 
the  period  Avhen  custom  demands  his  initiation  by  certain  cere- 
monies into  the  society  of  men,  is  the  first  to  feel  the  Aveight  of 
his  arm  on  his  return  home  from  the  scene  of  his  transition  ; for, 
to  show  that  he  is  noAv  a man  and  has  the  spirit  of  a man.  he. 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


15 


beats  her  soundly  ; nor  does  censure  follow  the  barbarous  act,  but 
he  is  applauded  for  his  contempt  of  the  society  and  authority  of 
woman.  For  aught  I know,  the  mother  herself  applauds  it, — but 
how  deep  her  degradation,  when  prepared  to  submit  to  insult  like 
this  on  maternal  dignity  and  honor  ! How  unlike  is  the  spirit  of 
Christianity,  prompting  the  son,  in  the  perfection  of  his  under- 
standing, in  the  plenitude  of  his  power,  and  amid  the  self-gratu- 
lations  of  his  independence,  to  submit  to  the  mild  reason  of  his 
mother, — to  acknowledge  her  unassuming  sway,  and  admit  that 
though  independent  of  all  things  else,  he  cannot  do  without  the 
smiles  of  maternal  approbation,  the  admonitions  of  maternal  soli- 
citude, and  the  reproofs  of  maternal  tenderness  and  integrity. 

Woman,  in  unevangelized  lands,  is  forced  to  perform  the  most 
perilous  and  menial  services  of  the  state  and  the  family.  The 
three  thousand  wives  of  the  king  of  Dahomey  are  enrolled  in  the 
army,  formed  into  regiments,  armed  with  all  the  accoutrements 
of  war,  and  a part  of  them  serve  as  the  king’s  body-guard. 
These  numerous  queens,  and  the  other  thousands  belonging  to 
the  kings  of  Ashautee  and  Varriba,  are  but  servants,  maintained 
for  ostentation, — to  display  the  wealth  and  power  of  their  royal 
masters  ; and  when  not  engaged  in  fighting  the  battles  or  guard- 
ing the  persons  of  their  lords,  they  are  doomed  to  labor  in  the 
fields  and  submit  to  all  the  drudgery  that  pertains  to  the  wife  of 
the  meanest  subject  of  the  realm.  Nor  is  this  all.  At  the  death 
of  an  African  king,  his  wives  are  slaughtered  by  scores  and  by 
hundreds,  from  an  idea  that  their  attendance  will  be  needed  m 
another  world. 

Go  with  me  to  Van  Dieman’s  Land,  and  see  the  weaker  sex 
charged  with  the  Avhole  burden  of  supporting  their  families, — 
husbands,  children  and  all.  Is  the  rough  soil  to  be  cultivated  'I 
In  their  hands  are  the  implements  of  labor.  Is  the  sea  to  be 
searched  for  the  sea-carp  or  the  lobster  ? They  are  found 
plunging  from  the  projecting  rocks  into  the  briny  flood,  remain- 
ing on  the  rocky  bottom,  beneath  the  waves,  twice  as  long  (says 
a naval  officer)  as  the  most  expert  of  our  dh^ers, — filling  their 
baskets, — returning  ashore, — drying  themselves  a few  minutes  by 
the  fire,  and  warming  their  chilled  limbs,  and  then  resuming 
their  perilous  toils,  while  their  husbands,  through  the  whole,  are 
seated  comfortably  around  the  fire,  feasting  on  the  choicest  of 
the  fish,  and  the  most  delicate  of  the  broiled  fern-roots. 

Nor  need  I carry  you  to  the  other  side  of  the  globe,  to  witness 
the  unseemly  toils  and  bitter  sufferings  of  benighted  woman.  Our 
own  continent  supplies  us  practical  illustrations  without  end. 


16 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


Let  a fact  or  two  suffice.  Father  Joseph  (a  missionary  on  the 
banks  of  the  Oronoco)  ventured  to  reprove  an  Indian  female,  for 
destroying  her  infant  daughter.  She  replied,  “ O that  my 
mother  had  thus  prevented  the  manifold  sufferings  I have 
endured  ! Consider,  father,  our  deplorable  condition.  Our  hus- 
bands go  out  to  hunt ; we  are  dragged  along  with  one  infant  at 
the  breast  and  another  in  a basket.  Though  tired  with  long 
Avalking,  we  are  not  allowed  to  sleep  when  we  return,  but  must 
labor  the  whole  night  in  grinding  maize  to  make  chica  for  them. 
They  get  drunk  and  beat  us;  they  drag  us  by  the  hair  of  the 
[lead  and  tread  us  under  foot.  And  after  such  a slavery  of  twenty 
years,  what  have  we  to  comfort  us?  A young  wife  is  brought 
home  and  permitted  to  abuse  us  and  our  children.  What  kind- 
ness can  we  show  our  daughters,  equal  to  putting  them  to  death? 
Would  to  God  my  mother  had  put  me  under  ground  the  moment 
1 was  born  ! ” 

One  case  more  only  for  the  sake  of  contrast.  “ Soon  after  my 
acquaintance  with  these  Indians,”  (says  a missionary  to  the 
Choctaws,)  “ I one  day  saw  a chief  travelling  on  horseback, 
quite  at  his  ease,  followed  by  his  poor  wife,  who  was  not  only  on 
foot,  but  carried  his  infant  child,  his  rifle,  and  a quantity  of  pro- 
visions in  a large  basket  at  her  back,  supported  by  a strap  drawn 
across  her  forehead.  At  a subsequent  season,  I met  the  same 
family  again  on  their  travels;  the  chief  was  now  on  foot,  laden 
with  his  own  arms,  and  he  had  kindly  placed  his  wife  on  the 
saddle.  The  child,  too,  now  much  larger  than  before,  was 
sweetly  sleeping  in  the  arms  of  its  father,  who  himself  seemed 
cheerful  and  happy  amid  the  fatigues  of  the  way.”  The 
language  of  the  poet  to  his  wife  he  practically  adopted  as 
his  own : 

“ On  all  her  days  let  health  and  peace  attend, 

May  she  ne’er  want  nor  lose  a friend ; 

May  some  new  pleasure  every  hour  employ, 

But  let  her  husband  be  her  highest  joy.” 

And  what  think  you  was  the  cause  of  this  wonderful  trans- 
formation? The  Choctaw  Chief  had  become  a follower  of 
Christ. 

But  the  widowhood  of  the  Pagan  wife  and  mother  is,  if  pos- 
sible, more  wretched  than  her  married  life.  As  if  Satan  could 
not  bear  that  the  daughters  of  the  first  victim  of  his  seduction 
should  find  peace  in  any  condition,  he  first  torments  them  as 
daughters  in  the  house  of  their  fathers,  then  as  wives  in  the 
dwellings  of  their  husbands,  and  then  as  widows,  cast  out  from 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COrNTP.LES. 


17 


every  charity  of  human  life.  Under  the  dark  covert  of  Pagan 
superstition  and  Mahometan  delusion,  unopposed  by  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit,  he  accomplishes  with  ease  his  fiendish  purposes, 
and  adds  the  wormwood  and  gall  of  universal  malice  and  con- 
tempt to  all  the  bitterness ^of  the  dregs  that  had  filled  her  cup  of 
woe,  from  the  cradle  to  the  death  of  her  husband.  Formerly', 
the  Caffre  widow,  on  the  decease  of  her  husband,  whatever 
was  the  season  of  the  year,  and  whatever  her  condition,  was 
compelled  to  fly  to  the  forest,  and  houseless,  hungry,  and  alone, 
mourn  her  loss  day'"  after  day'.  During  her  absence  her  dwelling 
was  plundered  by  her  relatives  of  everything  valuable,  set  on 
fire,  and  consumed,  and  the  only  dowry  allotted  her  from  her 
husband’s  property  was  a new  garment,  made  from  the  hide  of 
one  of  his  oxen.  On  returning  from  the  wildernesss,  she  built  a 
new  hut  with  her  own  hands,  and  subsisted  on  the  avails  of  her 
own  labor.  Missionary  enterprise  has  succeeded  in  abolishing 
this  cruel  custom,  and  Mr.  Shaw,  the  missionary  who  was  instru- 
mental in  accomplishing  it,  received  the  name  of  Umkinets  Um- 
fazie,  (the  woman’s  shield,)  by  which  he  is  now  generally  known 
in  Caffraria.  In  Greenland,  when  the  husband  dies,  the  widow, 
if  unprotected  by  friends,  is  usually  robbed  of  a considerable  por- 
tion of  her  property  by  those  Avho  come  to  sympathize  with  her 
by  an  affepted  condolence,  and  can  obtain  no  redress.  If  aged 
and  infirm,  she  is  not  unfrequently  buried  alive  by  her  own 
children. 

As  the  legitimate  consequences  of  their  servile  and  wretched 
condition,  females  of  every  unevangelized  land  are  devoid  of 
those  sentiments  of  delicacy,  and  that  refined  taste  and  acute  dis- 
crimination between  the  loA'ely  and  the  disgusting  in  manners 
and  customs,  which  distinguish  the  sex  in  lands  enlightened  by 
the  gospel.  Before  Christianity  commenced  its  reign  in  the  Soci- 
ety Islands,  wrestling  Avas  a favorite  amusement  of  females,  and 
one  in  Avhich  those  of  the  highest  rank  engaged,  not  only  Avith 
each  other,  but  also  Avith  the  men,  in  the  presence  of  thousands 
of  spectators  of  both  sexes.  Immediately  after  marriage,  every 
female  provided  herself  Avith  an  instrument  set  with  rows  of 
shark’s  teeth,  with  which,  on  the  death  of  any  of  the  family,  she 
fearfully  cut  and  lacerated  herself,  beating  the  head,  temples, 
cheeks,  and  breast,  till  blood  floAved  profusely,  while  she  uttered 
the  most  deafening  and  agonizing  cries.  Filthy  in  their  persons, 
indecent  in  their  apparel,  fantastic  in  their  ornaments,  and  famil- 
iar beyond  endurance  in  their  approaches  to  the  other  sex,  their 
character  stands  forth  an  enduring  but  sad  monument  of  that 


18 


CONDITION'  OF  WOMEN  IN 


intellectual  and  moral  degradation  which  Paganism  and  Mahom- 
etanism have  spread  far  and  wide.  Here  their  bodies  are  rubbed 
with  bears  grease,  and  there  with  fish  oil,  or  some  oftensive 
compound  of  vegetable  and  animal  matter.  The  sheep-skin,  or 
the  bullock's  hide, — the  tattered  handkerchief,  or  the  entrails  of 
slain  beasts,  serve  for  partial  protection  from  the  frosts  of  winter, 
or  the  burning  summer’s  sun ; and  scarcely  answering  the  purpose 
of  fig-leaves  in  the  fallen  first  pair,  are  not  unfrequently  laid 
aside  as  needless  incumbrances,  while  the  whole  person  is 
exposed  to  the  observation  of  every  passer-by.  In  Arabia,  they 
stain  their  fingers  and  toes  red ; their  eye-brows  black,  and 
their  lips  blue.  In  Persia,  they  paint  a black  streak  around  the 
eyes,  color  their  eye-brows  and  hair,  and  stain  the  face  and  neck 
with  figures  of  beasts,  birds,  flowers,  &c.  The  Hottentot  women 
paint  the  entire  body  in  compartmetits  of  red  and  black.  Hin- 
doo females,  when  they  wish  to  appear  particularly  lovely,  paint 
the  body  with  saffron  and  tumeric  mixed  with  grease.  In  nearly 
all  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  and  Indian  oceans,  and  in  many  other 
parts  of  the  world,  like  the  men,  they  tattoo  the  body,  with  an 
instrument  resembling  somewhat  a fine- toothed  comb,  whose  shai'p 
teeth,  dipped  into  a solution  of  indigo  or  soot,  are  thrust  into  the 
flesh,  introducing  the  coloring  matter  to  remain  forever,  and  im- 
printing a great  variety  of  fanciful  figures  on  the  faccf,  the  lips, 
the  tongue,  the  limbs,  the  whole  body.  The  process  is  painful, 
though  not  more  so  than  that  of  the  female  Greenlander,  who 
first  saturates  threads  with  soot,  and  then  inserts  them  beneath 
tlie  skin,  and  draws  them  through.  In  New  Holland,  the  women 
cut  themselves  with  shells,  and  by  keeping  open  the  wounds  a 
long  time,  form  wales  or  seams  on  the  flesh,  whicli  they  deem 
highly  ornamental.  And  another  singular  addition  is  made  to 
their  beauty  by  taking  off  the  little  finger  of  the  left  hand,  at  the 
second  joint, — a process  performed  in  infancy  by  tying  a hair 
around  it  so  tight  as  to  produce  mortification.  In  some  parts  of 
Hindoostan,  at  the  time  of  marriage,  a like  portion  of  the  third 
and  little  finger  is  removed.  A similar  custom  prevails  among 
the  Hottentots.  Among  some  of  the  savage  tribes  of  America, 
and  also  in  Sumatra  and  Arracan,  continual  pressure  is  applied 
to  the  skull  to  flatten  it,  and  add  to  the  beauty  of  its  form.  In 
nearly  all  the  South  Sea  Islands,  custom  requires  an  incision  to 
be  made  in  the  lobe  of  each  ear,  into  which  rolls  of  leaves,  or 
long  pieces  of  wood  or  ivory  are  inserted,  and  from  these,  shells 
or  fish  teeth  are  suspended,  to  such  an  amount  that  their  weight 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


19 


draws  down  the  ear  nearly  to  the  shoulder,  and  not  unl'requently 
tears  it  asunder.  The  mother  of  Sumatra  carefully  flattens  the 
nose  of  her  daughter ; and  in  New  Guinea,  the  nose  is  perforated, 
and  a large  piece  of  wood  or  bone  inserted,  making  it  difficult  to 
breathe.  On  the  north-west  coast  of  ximerica,  an  incision  more 
than  two  inches  in  length  is  made  in  the  lower  lip,  and  filled  with 
a wooden  plug.  In  Guiana,  the  lip  is  pierced  with  thorns,  the 
heads  being  inside  the  mouth  and  the  points  resting  on  the  chin. 
And  in  Java,  Borneo,  and  Celebes,  they  file  their  teeth  to  a point, 
and  color  them  black,  considering  it  disgraceful  to  let  them 
remain  “ white  like  the  teeth  of  dogs.” 

In  some  countries  corpulency  is  esteemed  essential  to  beauty ; 
and  the  wives  of  kings  and  chiefs  are  beloved  in  proportion  to  the 
sleek  fatness  and  gross  weight  of  their  persons  The  Tunisian 
Avoman,  of  moderate  pretensions  to  beauty,  needs  a slave  under 
each  arm  to  support  her  when  she  walks,  and  a perfect  belle  car- 
ries flesh  enough  to  load  down  a camel.  So  anxious  are  mothers 
that  their  daughters  should  attain  this  miAvieldy  size,  that  they 
compel  them  to  eat  enormous  quantities  of  fattening  food  and 
drink  several  bowls  of  camel’s  milk  every  day.  Mungo  Park 
describes  a poor  girl  as  crying  for  more  than  an  hour,  with  a 
bowl  at  her  lips,  while  her  mother  stood  over  her  with  a rod,  and 
beat  her  cruelly,  if  she  failed  to  swallow  fast  enough.  And  Capt. 
Clapperton  found  himself  in  not  a little  difficulty  at  Houssa, 
through  the  importunity  of  an  Arab  widow,  whose  wealth  and 
rank,  enforced  by  the  charms  of  a huge  person,  black-dyed  eye- 
brows, blue  hair,  red  stained  hands  and  feet,  all  adorned  with 
necklaces,  girdles  and  bracelets,  seemed  to  fit  her  for  the  station  of 
a queen,  whither  her  aspirations  tended,  and  to  which,  with  Clap- 
perton for  a husband,  she  doubted  not  she  might  attain.  But  lie 
happened  not  (0  cruel !)  to  fancy  “ a walking  tun-butt”  for  a wife, 
and  preferred  the  loss  of  the  honors  of  African  royalty  to  the  life- 
companionship  of  five  hundred  pounds  of  Arab  flesh. 

The  beauty  of  a Chinese  lady  is  in  her  feet,  which  in  childhood 
are  so  compressed  by  bandages  as  effectually  to  prevent  any  fur- 
ther increase  in  size.  The  four  smaller  toes  are  turned  under  the 
foot,  to  the  sole  of  which  they  firmly  adhere.  The  poor  girl  not 
only  endures  much  pain,  but  becomes  a cripple  for  life.  Another 
mark  of  beauty  and  distinction  lies  in  the  length  to  which  the 
finger  nails  are  allowed  to  grow, — a length  that  requires  them  to 
be  shielded  from  accident  by  casings  of  bamboo.  The  ambitious 
beauties  of  Siam,  not  content  with  protecting  carefully  these 
ever-growing  excrescences  of  nature,  provide  themselves  with 
artificial  nail.s  four  inches  lonv. 


20 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


Allow  that,  agreeably  to  the  proverb,  “ there  is  no  disputing 
of  tastes,”  and  that  no  nation  or  individual  is  responsible  to 
another  for  peculiar  customs,  will  it  be  questioned  that  the  wear- 
ing of  cumbrous  and  unwieldy  ornaments,  and  the  disfiguring  of 
the  body,  and  forcing  it  into  uncouth  forms  at  the  expense  of  so 
much  suffering,  are  customs  offensive  to  nature,  and  to  nature’s 
God, — the  legitimate  progeny  of  Paganism  ? — and  so  far  as  ever 
grafted  upon  the  slock  of  Christianity,  are  they  more  incongruous 
with  its  simplicity  and  at  variance  with  its  spirit,  than  repulsive 
to  reason  and  common  sense'?  Foolish  and  unseemly  customs 
are  not  confined  to  Pagan  and  Mahometan  females,  it  is  true, — 
they  exist  in  more  enlightened  lands;  but  in  these  lands,  they  are 
one  after  another  assailed,  changed  and  banished  by  the  mild  genius 
of  Christianity ; while,  in  the  darker  portions  of  the  earth,  they 
enter  into  the  very  constitution  of  society,  and  know  no  change 
or  modification,  more  than  the  elements  of  nature,  or  the  imme- 
morial rites  of  a bloody  superstition.  Deplorable,  then,  are  the 
delusions  under  which  the  god  of  this  world  hath  bound  down 
the  nations  that  yield  unresistingly  to  his  sway, — severe  the  bond- 
age under  which  they  wear  out  hated  life,  and  melancholy  the 
barbarous  customs,  which  through  conscience,  fancy,  or  caprice, 
his  tyrant  arm  imposes  on  successive  generations. 

To  all  this  may  be  added  their  unbounded  superstition.  Their 
servile  fear  of  the  gods  amounts  to  a terror  which  quenches  the 
kindlings  of  natural  affection,  and  drives  them  on  to  deeds  of 
darkest  inhumanity.  Ignorant  of  the  God  of  love,  and  conceiving 
of  their  divinities  as  capricious,  malignant  and  revengeful,  they 
are  easily  impelled  to  sacrifices  at  which  nature  shudders,  and 
every  sentiment  of  true  piety  stands  aghast.  Unenlightened  by 
education,  and  enslaved  by  the  spirit  of  idolatry,  they  become  the 
victims  of  priestly  craft,  without  resistance,  and  the  dupes  of 
their  own  vain  imaginings,  as  if  reason  and  conscience  entered 
not  at  all  into  their  moral  constitution.  The  African  female 
ventures  not  to  commence  a journey,  nor  to  undertake  important 
business  of  any  kind,  till  well  furnished  with  protective  charms, 
consisting  chiefly  of  bits  of  paper,  which  contain  a written  sen- 
tence, or  fragment  of  a sentence,  carefully  deposited  within  a bag 
fastened  to  her  person.  The  women  of  Houssa,  seeing  Major 
Denham  using  a pen.  came  to  him  in  crowds,  to  obtain  a scrawl 
that  should  serve  as  an  amulet  to  restore  their  beauty,  to  preserve 
the  affections  of  their  lovers,  or  to  destroy  a rival.  If  a child  be 
born  in  Madagascar,  on  a day  reputed  unlucky,  its  evil  destiny 
must  be  averted,  by  the  destruction  of  its  life,  under  the  hands 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COL'NTKIES. 


21 


of  its  parents.  The  only  alternative  is,  to  leave  it  in  a narrow 
path,  over  which  a herd  of  cattle  is  furiously  driven,  while  the 
parents  stand  looking  on  from  a distance;  and  if  it  chance  to 
escape  unhurt,  they  run  to  embrace  it,  convinced  that  the  malig- 
nant influence  is  removed.  Sometimes  the  child  is  drowned  in  a 
vessel  of  water  prepared  for  the  purpose,  or  thrown  into  a pit, 
with  its  face  downward,  or  suftbcated  by  stuffing  a cloth  into  its 
mouth ; but  the  parents  themselves  are  commonly  the  execution- 
ers, under  the  impression  that  there  is  no  other  way  of  saving  the 
child  from  the  misfortunes  that  await  its  future  years.  From 
time  immemorial,  Hindoo  mothers  have  thrown  their  infant 
children  into  the  Ganges,  to  be  devoured  b}''  alligators ; not 
because  they  Avere  destitute  of  maternal  affection,  but  because  a 
mother’s  love  was  overpowered  by  her  fears  of  the  wrath  of  some 
offended  deity.  The  Hindoo  widow  burns  on  the  funeral  pile 
of  her  husband.  Thus  she  escapes  the  obloquy  of  widowhood, 
and  becomes  entitled,  as  she  believes,  to  a residence  with  her 
husband  and  their  relatives  in  heaven.  Thanks  to  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  this  horrid  superstition  has  relaxed  its  gra.sp  on  Indian 
mind  ; but,  till  Avithin  a few  years,  thousands  of  widows  became 
annually  its  Auctims ; and  at  the  death  ot  princes  and  other  men 
of  elevated  rank,  possessed  of  many  Avives,  the  dreadful  sacri- 
fice has  been  all  that  Abaddon  himself  could  desire.  Twelve 
Avidows  in  one  instance,  eighteen  in  another,  thirty-seven  in 
another,  and  on  the  death  of  Ajie,  prince  of  Malwar,  fifty-eight 
threw  themselves  on  the  funeral  piles  of  their  husbands  and  per- 
ished. As  late  as  1844  tAventy-four  Avomen  Avere  burnt  in  Pun- 
jab. There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  dreadful  sacrifice  is  some- 
times voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  victim,  but  it  is  by  no  means 
universally  so.  Not  only  is  all  the  earthly  glory  of  the  deed,  and 
the  happiness  of  a Pagan  heaven  promised  on  the  one  hand,  and 
all  the  terrors  of  contempt  and  persecution  through  life,  with  ever- 
lasting infamy,  arrayed  on  the  other,  but  force  is  applied,  with 
fiend-like  perseverance,  to  compel  the  unhappy  Avife  to  mount 
the  blazing  altar  of  Moloch. 

FolloAvme  to  the  immolation  of  a Brahmin’s  Avidow  in  Northern 
Hindoostan.  The  unfortunate  woman,  of  her  own  accord,  has 
ascended  the  burning  pile.  The  torture  of  the  fire  is  more  than  she 
can  endure,  and  by  a violent  struggle  she  throAvs  herself  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  flames,  and  tottering  to  a river  near  by,  is  kindly 
plunged  into  it  by  some  English  gentlemen  present,  to  assuage  her 
torments.  She  retains  her  senses  perfectly,  shrinks  Avith  dread 
from  another  encounter  Avith  the  flames,  and  refuses  so  to  die.  Her 


1 


22  CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 

inhuman  relatives  then  take  her  by  the  head  and  feet,  and  throw 
her  upon  the  pile,  and  hold  her  there  till  driven  away  by  the  heat. 
They  endeavor  too,  to  stun  her  with  blows, — but  again  she  escapes 
and  makes  to  the  river.  Her  relatives  then  try  to  drown  her, 
but  one  of  the  English  gentlemen  mentioned  interferes,  and  she 
throws  herself  into  his  arms,  begging  him  to  save  her.  “ I can- 
not describe  to  you,”  says  one  present  at  the  scene,  the  horror 
I felt  at  seeing  her  mangled  condition : almost  every  inch  of  skin 
on  her  body  had  been  burnt  otf, — her  legs  and  thighs,  her  arms 
and  back,  were  completely  raw, — her  breasts  dreadfully  torn,  and 
the  skin  dangling  from  them  in  threads, — the  skin  and  nails  of 
her  fingers  had  peeled  wholly  ofi’,  and  were  hanging  to  the  back 
of  her  hands.  In  fact,  I never  saw  and  never  read  of  so  entire  a 
picture  of  misery  as  this  poor  woman  displayed.  She  still  dread- 
ed being  again  committed  to  the  fire,  and  called  to  us  to  save  her. 
Her  friends  at  length  desisted  from  their  efibrts.  We  sent  her  to 
the  hospital.  Every  medical  assistance  was  given,  but,  after 
lingering  twenty  hours,  in  excruciating  pain,  her  spirit  departed.” 

Such  is  the  superstition  of  heathen  lands.  Its  forms  are  vari- 
ous, but  its  spirit  is  everywhere  the  same.  It  leads  its  vota- 
ries to  defile  themselves  with  the  mud  of  the  streets,  to  measure 
the  distance  from  their  homes  to  their  temples,  by  the  length  of 
their  bodies  prostrated  every  six  feet  of  the  way, — to  swing  in  the 
air,  suspended  by  hooks  thrust  through  the  muscles  of  the  back, 
and  to  submit  to  a thousand  other  tortures,  in  honor  of  some 
cruel  but  imaginary  deity.  It  teaches  the  brother  to  betray 
the  sister, — the  mother  to  imbrue  her  hands  in  the  blood  of  her 
own  offspring, — and  the  son  to  light  the  pile  which  consumes  the 
mother  that  gave  him  life.  It  glories  in  deeds  like  these,  as  more 
pleasing  to  the  gods  than  any  alleviation  of  human  woe  that 
kindness  can  effect,  and  more  intrinsically  meritorious  than  all 
the  moral  virtues  commended  by  the  philosophy  of  Seneca,  or  the 
precepts  of  Christ. 

But  it  is  time  to  close.  We  have  now  cursorily  glanced  at  the 
character  of  woman,  as  unaffected  by  the  refining  and  elevating 
influences  of  Christianity.  We  have  seen  her  trodden  down  as 
the  mire  of  the  streets  by  him  whom  Heaven  created  to  be  her 
protector  and  comforter.  We  have  seen  unevangelized  man 
everywhere,  like  the  fabled  generation  of  warriors  springing 
from  the  serpent’s  teeth  armed  for  the  work  of  destruction,  direct- 
ing his  chief  malignities  against  woman, — his  best  friend,  his 
safest  counsellor, — his  most  unfailing  solace, — because  her  native 
timidity  and  weakness  invite  the  yiolence  and  insult  of  a coward- 


PAGAN  AND  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


23 


arm ! VVe  have  seen  her  lost  to  self-respect,  dead  to  instinctive 
affection,  ignorant  of  the  rights  with  Avhich  her  Maker  has  invested 
her,  unacquainted  with  her  relations  to  eternity,  indulgent  to  the 
wildest  passions  of  depraved  nature,  and  plunged  far  down  the 
abyss  of  unnatural  crime.  We  have  marked  her  wanderings, 
listened  to  her  complaints,  and  seen  her  scalding  tears.  And 
have  we  no  sympathy  in  her  sufferings'] — no  arm  that  Avill 
extend  to  her  relief  7 — no  voice  that  will  call  her  to  Calvary,  and 
direct  her  eye  to  woman’s  friend  and  Saviour,  and  thence  to 
a world  of  unmingled  purity  and  love'^  Measures  are  in  pro- 
gress (thank  God  !)  for  restoring  woman  to  her  true  dignity,  and 
re-establishing  her  just  relations  to  man  as  her  hu.sband,  guar- 
dian, and  unfailing  friend.  The  same  measures  will  restore  ^e 
Avorld  to  the  dominion  of  Christ,  and  man,  in  all  his  tribes,  to  the. 
sway  of  reason  and  revelation.  Then  shall  it  no  more  be  said 
that 

“ his  ambition  is  to  sink, 

To  reach  a depth  profounder  still,  and  still 
Profounder,  in  the  fathomless  abyss 
Of  folly,  plunging  in  pursuit  of  death 

but  he  shall  rise  to  “ glory,  honor,  and  immortality,”  and  share 
it  with  the  helper  of  his  faith  and  love,  the  mother  of  his  chil- 
dren, the  softener  of  his  dying  pillow, — the  kind  angel  that  hovers 
over  him  as  his  soaring  spirit  takes  its  flight.  Not  far  distant  is 
the  day,  unless  we  quite  mistake  the  “ signs  of  the  times,” 
when,  throughout  all  nations,  woman  shall  resume  the  station 
Heaven  first  assigned  her,  and  form  again  the  loveliest  ornament 
of  humanity, — man’s  coadjutor  in  works  of  faith  and  labors  of 
love,  and  childhood’s  most  persuasive  teacher  of  all  that  is  vif.Cq- 
ous,  lovely,  and  of  good  report,  in  human  disposition  and  action. 
Soon  let  that  day  of  brightness  dawn, — that  glorious  era  be  fully 
ushered  in  ; for  it  shall  prove  the  termination  of  earth’s  bitterest 
woes,  and  the  consummation  of  Heaven’s  most  earnest  labors. 


END  OF  THE  LECTURE. 


MR.  WRIGHT, 

The  author  of  the  foregoing  Lecture,  has  travelled  extensively 
in  India,  and  is  now  engaged  in  lecturing  on  the  Manners^ 
Habits^  and  Superstitions  of  the  Hindoos. 

THE  LECTURES  ARE  ILLUSTRATED  BY 

BEAUTIFULLY  EXECUTED  IN  OIL  COLOURS  ON  CANVASS. 

They  represent  the  Hindoos  engaged  in  their  domestic  occu- 
pations and  religious  rites ; also  Landscapes,  Cities,  Palaces, 
Temples,  Remarkable  Personages,  and  many  other  objects  of 
interest  seen  by  the  Lecturer  in  the  course  of  his  travels. 

The  Paintings  * and  Lectures  have  been  prepared  at  an  expense 

of  more  than 

SIX  THOUSAND  DOLLARS, 
and  are  highly  recommended  by  a great  number  of  persons  in 
eminent  stations,  among  whom  are 

EIGHTEEN  PRESIDENTS 

OF  COLLEGES  AND  THEOLOGICAL  INSTITUTIONS. 

President  Day,  of  Yale  College,  says, 

“ Mr.  Wright  has  recently  lectured  in  seven  of  the  churches  in 
this  city,  to  large  and  highly  gratified  audiences.  I believe  his 
lectures  are  doing  much  good,  and  hope  they  will  continue  to 
receive  the  patronage  they  deserve.” 

President  North,  of  Hamilton  College,  says, 

“The  paintings  are  not  only  interesting  as  finished  works  of 
art,  but  they  convey  to  the  mind,  in  a very  impressive  manner, 
much  valuable  information,  which,  without  such  aid,  could  not 
be  communicated.  I doubt  whether  a careful  perusal  of  many 

• The  Paintings  are  not  exhibited  by  a magic  lantern. 


25 


volumes  would  give  so  clear  and  comprehensive  a view  of  the 
natives  of  India  in  their  domestic  occupations,  and  of  their  habi- 
tations, temples,  deities,  and  degrading  superstitions,  as  can  be 
obtained  by  attending  these  lectures.” 

President  Bates,  formerly  of  Middlebury  College,  says, 

“The  paintings  used  by  Mr.  Wright,  in  illustrating  the  sub- 
jects of  his  lectures,  are  skilfully  and  beautifully  executed  ; — 
speaking  powerfully  and  impressively  to  the  eye;  while  he  ad- 
dresses the  ear  in  language  at  once  chaste,  graphic,  and  appro- 
priate.” 

Pres.  Babcock,  formerly  of  Waterville  College,  says, 

“Mr.  Wright’s  lectures  contain  a large  amount  of  valuable 
information,  and  it  is  communicated  in  an  interesting,  unexcep- 
tionable, and  impressive  manner.” 

President  Edwards,  formerly  of  the  Theological  Insti- 
tution St  Andover,  says, 

“ I have  listened  with  deep  interest  to  the  lectures  of  Mr. 
Wright.  They  furnish  much  valuable  information  respecting 
a large  portion  of  our  race.  The  paintings,  which  are  executed 
with  great  skill,  happily  illustrate  the  subject  of  which  he  treats, 
and  atld  much  to  the  interest  and  profit  of  the  lectures.’’ 

President  Sears,  of  the  Theological  Institution  at  New’- 

ton,  says, 

“Having  attended  the  lectures  of  Mr.  Wright,  I take  pleasure 
m saying  that  I regard  them  as  highly  useful,  as  well  as  enter- 
taining. ^The  interest  of  the  lectures  is  greatly  enhanced,  not 
only  by  the  consciousness  the  hearer  feels  that  the  speaker  has 
Avitnessed  what  he  describes,  but  by  the  numerous  and  expensive 
paintings  which  are  used  for  illustration,  the  view  of  which 
alone  would  richly  compensate  for  the  time  and  expense  of 
attending.” 

Rev.  Dr.  .Irmstroiig,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  Dr.  fonc,  Pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  in  Jlew  York,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Janes,  a Bishop  of  the 
llcthodist  Episcopal  Churcli,  say, 


''''  5^Ao■:^e  w/io  attend  d&tiiiedj 

■leceive  raoze  idan  ide  /deti  a/>  tize 

t/i  {r/ic  Uide^to/ (M^oi'Zziatcon  camzzztc/ucaiedj  diet  tdiey  encciita^ 
di/T/i  191  a ziMZzd  dcTievo/ezzce.  zd^e  Aa-)  adezzdy  ^ve9i 
tuzo  tAoiiziand  ei.c  Aio/zdied  and ^zt?^=^^i/zje  dedazz)  to  va/uouo 
■dcnew/cn-t  iziatitiotiono  d 


26 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN  IN 


THE  VILLAGE  GOSSIPS. 

“ From  time  immemorial,  in  every  clime  and  every  country,  the 
village  gossips  are  all  alike,  more  busy  about  the  affairs  of 
others  than  their  own.  The  scandalous  tattle  of  a village  in 
India  is  perhaps  unequalled  in  any  other  part  of  the  globe.  If 
reputation  experiences  a wound  in  other  countries,  there  it  is 
absolutely  massacred,  where  malice  and  jealousy,  supported  by 
the  most  unblushing  falsehood,  plants  a barb  of  the  most  cruel 
slur  in  the  reputation  of  many  an  innocent  neighbor. 

“ It  frequently  happens  that  some  tell-tale  repeats  the  scandal 
to  the  parties  injured,  which  generally  occasions  a great  uproar 
in  the  village  ; the  slandered  person «Tushes  like  a fury  from  her 
hut  and  pours  forth  a volley  of  the  most  virulent  and  indecent 
railings  that  ever  were  heard,  cracking  her  fingers  and  uttering 
horrible  curses  on  the  infamous  slanderer  : this  does  not  fail  to 
bring  out  the  guilty  party,  who  will  either  deny  the  whole  wdth 
the  most  barefaced  falsehood,  or  openly  maintain  her  scandal 
and  throw  back  curses  ou  her  injured  neighbor's  head;  this 
produces  a most  furious  exchange  of  abuses,  which  continues  for 
some  time  with  the  most  wonderful  rapidity  and  loquacity, 
uttered  in  screams,  somewhat  resembling  the  cries  of  a jackal, 
till  they  become  exhausted ; still  eying  each  other,  however,  with 
looks  of  rage  and  defiance,  and  unable  to  separate,  theysit  them- 
selves down  a little  distance  opposite  each  other,  when  one 
begins,  her  eyes  sparkling  with  rage,  the  muscles  of  her  face 
displaying  all  the  malice  of  her  heart,  while  the  smile  of  irony 
and  contempt  is  seen  playing  on  her  lips  : she  exposes  to  the 
spectators,  that  crowd  round  to  enjoy  the  quarrel,  every  failing, 
and  every  scandalous  tale  she  has  either  invented  herself  or 
heard  of  against  her  antagonist,  heightening  them  with  color- 
ing of  the  most  malignant  wit  and  cutting  sarcasm,  which 
generally  causes  laughter  among  the  bystanders.  The  other, 
thus  outraged,  endeavors  to  keep  her  fury  within  bounds,  and 
joining  in  the  laugh  with  a demoniac  look,  she  claps  her  hands 
and  begins  to  sing  a sort  of  wild  air  or  chant,  the  words  of 
which  she  extemporizes  for  the  purpose ; these  are  a combination 
of  more  abominable  railings,  similes,  etc.,  etc.,  against  her 
antagonist  and  her  ancestors,  than  ever  were  heard  of  in  any 
other  part  of  the  world.  The  other  quickly  replies  in  the  same 


PAGAN  ANO  MAHOMETAN  COUNTRIES. 


27 


tune,  and  if  her  brain  prove  more  fertile  in  malice  and  wicked- 
ness, and  her  sarcasms  more  acute,  she  is  sure  to  bring  her 
neighbor  to  such  a pitch  of  fury  that  she  springs  from  her  seat 
within  a few  steps  of  her,  when  she  proceeds  to  all  the  wild 
extravagancies  of  a maniac,  using  the  most  horrible  language 
and  the  most  shameless  and  indecent  gestures,  till  the  other, 
darting  forward,  grapples  with  her  antagonist,  and  a most 
furious  battle  ensues,  pulling  of  hair,  scratching  and  blows  : this 
continues  with  most  wonderful  obstinacy  and  courage,  both 
sides  preferring  to  die  sooner  than  give  ground,  till  they  are 
forcibly  separated  by  their  husbands  or  friends.  Sometimes 
these  quarrels  become  almost  general  in  the  village,  especially'  if 
there  are  several  relatives  of  the  party  injured  in  the  neigh- 
borhood.” 

Women  of  IVew  Holland. 

“ Although  addicted  to  infanticide,  they  displays  in  other 
instances,  an  extraordinar;  Vgree  of  affection  for  their  dead  off- 
spring, evidenced  by'’  an  act  that  almost  exceeds  credibility,  had 
it  not  so  often  been  witnessed  among  the  tribes  in  the  interior  of 
the  colony.  1 allude  to  the  fact  of  deceased  children,  from  the 
earliest  age  to  even  six  or  seven  y'ears,  being  placed  in  a bag 
made  of  kangaroo  skins,  and  slung  upon  the  back  of  the  mother, 
who,  besides  this  additional  burthen,  carries  her  usual  cnJy^  or 
bag  for  provisions.  &c.  They'  carry  them  thus  for  ten  or  twelve 
months,  sleeping  upon  the  mass  of  mortal  remains,  which  serves 
them  for  a pillow,  apparently  unmindful  of  the  horrid  fetor 
which  emanates  from  such  a putrefydng  substance.  When  the 
body  becomes  dry.  or  only  the  bones  left,  the  remains  are  burnt, 
buried,  or  placed  in  a hollow  trunk  or  limb  of  a tree  : in  the 
latter  instance  covering  the  opening  carefully  with  stones,  &c. 
All  the  information  that  could  be  procured  from  them  respecting 
this  disgusting  custom,  was,  ‘ that  they  were  afraid,  if  they 
buried  them,  the  Buckee.  or  devil,  would  take  them  away'.’ 

Infanticide  in  the  Society  Islandiii. 

‘‘Infanticide  was  carried,”  say's  the  Rev.  J.  Williams,  “to  an 
almost  incredible  extent  in  the  Tahitian  and  Society'  Islands.;” 
and  this  he  illustrates  by  the  following  statement : — 

“During  the  visit  of  the  deputation,  our  respected  friend, 
G.  Rennet,  Esq.,  was  our  guest  for  three  or  four  months ; and 

* Wanderings  in  New  South  Wales,  dec.,  by  G.  Bennett,  Esq.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  125. 


28 


CONDITION  OF  WOMEN. 


on  one  occasion,  while  conversing  on  the  subject,  he  expressed  a 
wish  to  obtain  accurate  knowledge  of  the  extent  to  which  this 
cruel  system  had  prevailed.  Three  women  were  sitting  in  the 
room  at  the  time,  making  European  garments,  under  Mrs.  W.’s 
direction ; and,  after  replying  to  Mr.  Sennet’s  inquiries,  I said, 

‘ I have  no  doubt  but  that  each  of  these  women  has  destroyed  ^ 
some  of  her  children.’  Looking  at  them  with  an  expression  of 
surprise  and  incredulity,  Mr.  B.  exclaimed,  ‘ Impossible  ! such 
motherly,  respectable  women  could  never  have  been  guilty  of  so 
great  an  atrocity.’  ‘ Well,’  I added,  ‘ we’ll  ask  them.’  Address- 
ing the  first,  I said  to  her,  ‘ Friend,  how  many  children  have 
you  destroyed  ] ’ She  was  startled  at  my  question,  and  at  first 
charged  me  with  unkindness,  in  harrowing  up  her  feelings,  by 
bringing  the  destruction  of  her  babes  to  her  remembrance  ; but, 
upon  hearing  the  object  of  my  inquiry,  she  replied,  with  a falter- 
ing voice,  ‘ I have  destroyed  nine  ! ’ The  second,  with  eyes 
suflused  with  tears,  said,  ‘ I have  destroyed  seven ;’  and  the 
third  informed  us  that  she  had  destroyed  Jive.  Thus  three  indi- 
viduals, casually  selected,  had  killed  one-and-iwentxj  children ! 
but  I am  happy  to  add  that  these  mothers  were,  at  the  time  of 
this  conversation,  and  continued  to  be  so  long  as  I knew  them, 
consistent  members  of  my  church. 

‘•On  another  occasion,  I was  called  to  visit  the  wife  of  a chief 
in  dying  circumstances.  She  had  professed  Christianity  for 
many  years,  had  learned  to  read  when  nearly  sixty,  and  was  a 
very  active  teacher  iu  our  adult  school.  In  the  prospect  of 
death,  she  sent  a pressing  request  that  I would  visit  her  imme- 
diately ; and,  on  entering  her  apartments,  she  exclaimed,  ‘ O 
servant  of  God,  come  and  tell  me  what  I must  do  ! ’ Perceiving 
that  she  was  suffering  great  mental  distress,  I inquired  the  cause 
of  it ; when  she  replied,  ‘ I am  about  to  die  ! ’ ‘ Well,’  I rejoined, 

• if  it  be  so,  what  creates  this  agony  of  mind  ? ’ ‘ Oh,  my  sins, 

my  sins ! ’ she  cried  ; ‘ I am  about  to  die  ! ’ I then  inquired 
what  the  particular  sins  were  which  so  greatly  distressed  her, 
when  she  exclaimed,  ‘ Oh,  my  children,  my  murdered  children  ! 

I am  about  to  die,  and  I shall  meet  them  all  at  the  judgment 
seat  of  Christ.’  Upon  this  I inquired  how  many  children  she 
had  destroyed ; afid,  to  my  astonishment,  she  repilied,  ‘ I have 
destroyed  sixteen  ! and  now  I am  about  to  die  ! ’ ” 


